Emporia State football is set to add a game to its schedule in 2024. A recent rule change also means that Hornet football will be starting a little earlier each year. NCAA Division II announced last week that a proposal was approved on an 89-80 vote by football-sponsoring delegates at the 2024 NCAA Convention that permits schools to play their first game one week earlier than normal in what is commonly referred to as ‘Week 0’. Emporia State head football coach Garin Higgins said its a big win for the sport and his team.
Higgins says finding the right fit for the game will be important.
He also wants to move quickly to find a Week 0 opponent for 2024.
Higgins also said that depending on the day of the Week 0 game, the first two games of MIAA play next season may change to avoid a quick turnaround from a possible Saturday Week 0 game to their scheduled Thursday night MIAA opener.
Higgins says that programs participating in Week 0 will be able to bring players on campus one week earlier in order to complete a normal three-week training camp. ESU’s current 2024 schedule is set to begin on Thursday, September 5 with a Thursday night opener against Washburn.
